DOJ Due to Turn Up the Heat on British Petroleum

The Justice Department today is expected today to lend its considerable weight to civil lawsuits pending against BP and its contractors over the Gulf of Mexico oil spill.

Dozens of private suits have been consolidated into an MDL in federal court in New Orleans. The DOj is expected to file a complaint that seeks to join that MDL scrum and allege violations of environmental-protection regulations, which could trigger penalties under the Clean Water Act and Oil Pollution Act, WSJ reports.

The fines under the Clean Water Act could at a minimum amount to $4.5 billion, which would be $1,100 for each of the estimated 4.1 million barrels that spilled into the waters, according to WSJ.

By joining the litigation, WSJ reports, the Justice Department would likely play a major role in the litigation, including depositions of key witnesses, which could aid the government’s own investigation into the April oil-rig accident.

Attorney General Eric Holder earlier announced a broad probe into possible criminal and civil violations in the disaster.

DOJ and BP both declined to comment.

Most of the government’s legal strategy isn’t yet public, WSJ reports, adding that government lawyers in recent months have tussled with BP contractor, Transocean, over the company’s attempts to limit its liability.

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